To meet the requirements of Clause 1.13 [a] of the Standards your RTO must ensure it has trainers and assessors who are vocationally competent to at least the level being delivered and assessed. They do not need to hold the exact units of competency they are delivering however unless specified by the relevant training package or assessment conditions within a unit of competency. To demonstrate that your trainers and assessors have equivalent vocational competencies where they don’t hold the exact units you must ensure you have sufficiently documented an analysis of their evidence against each unit of competency being delivered.

Demonstrating Vocational Competencies:

According to ASQA if a trainer or assessor holds the qualification they are delivering and has recent extensive industry experience, this may be sufficient to demonstrate they hold both current industry skills and vocational competencies. RTOs needs to take into account when recognising a trainer or assessors evidence of vocational competencies that it should be considered in the context of the specific industry sector with reference to the requirements of the relevant training package and/or the assessment conditions of the specific unit of competency. In the case of trainers or assessors who do not hold the exact units of competency that they are delivering but they have the appropriate industry experience your RTO would need to analyse the skills and knowledge they deliver and compare this to their industry skills and knowledge. ASQA would want to see a mapping of the evidence presented that shows equivalence to the units of competency being delivered.

Mapping Equivalence:

Your documented analysis of a trainer or assessors evidence should address the following key aspects:

Identify the skills and knowledge requirements for each unit of competency the trainer or assessor is delivering
collect supporting documentation that demonstrates the equivalence
authenticate the documentation provided with issuers of credentials and employers
record the analysis of equivalence in a mapping document.

In analysing the skills and knowledge of the units of competency the trainer or assessor is delivering you are comparing it to the individual trainer or assessor’s industry experience and work history by establishing an equivalence relationship.

Supporting Documentation:

RTOs need to have a process in place to verify supporting documentation provided by trainers and assessors. This includes authenticating credentials submitted with the issuer to confirm they are genuine. Work history should also be verified by conducting referee checks at the time of recruitment to confirm relevant industry experience. RTOs should keep records in staff profiles showing how verification was conducted.